NDIS issues get close to ‘crisis mode’

Advocate working on new forum

‘‘ THERE ARE MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE SCHEME, AND IF IT KEEPS GOING THIS WAY IT’S GETTING TO CRISIS MODE. ALYCE NELLIGAN

REPRESENTATIVES from the ALP, the Greens and One Nation are expected to be at a forum organised to discuss problems with the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Disability advocate Alyce Nelligan said she received support from three senators to attend the forum, which was sparked by several reports about clients having their NDIS funding cut.

Ms Nelligan, who was born with Minicore myopathy, said the problems with the scheme were nearing crisis levels.

“There are major issues with the scheme, and if it keeps going this way it’s getting to crisis mode,” she said.

“You’ll find that there are so many rules about what you can and can’t spend the money on.

“I’m working with about five people trying to get their story heard.

“We’re looking at holding a forum to gauge how many people are having this experience.”

Calls for a forum were sparked last week when two Toowoomba residents reported losing about $100,000 from each of their plans.

In both cases, the funding was cut because it wasn’t spent last year, largely because the right service providers weren’t available in Toowoomba at the time.

Ms Nelligan is working with fellow advocate and former One Nation candidate Paul Wilson to establish the event within a few weeks.

“We are organising a forum and we’ve also got support from different political parties. We want to get that dialogue opened,” she said.

To register for the forum, send an email to speedy_star_86@msn.com.